Inflatable accessory

ABSTRACT

An inflatable accessory, or balloon, including a main body formed by one or more sheets which are made of a thermoplastic polymer and are superposed and connected to each other by means of one or more seal lines to form a chamber for inflation of the balloon. The inflatable accessory includes at least one portion made with the same material as the sheet and as one piece with it, defining a body configured in the form of a surface designed to allow the application of ink on it. Preferably, the body is shaped like a flat surface, with one or more faces, to form a sort of book or notepad.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an inflatable accessory, referable to a sortof “balloon,” basically a balloon for babies and young children.

This solution is applied in particular in the entertainment sector, inparticular in the industry of balloons made of foil, that is metalizedplastic (Mylar®) or nylon.

It should be noted that the terms “inflatable accessory” and “balloon”are used below without distinction since this invention is mainlyapplicable to this type of product for amusement and enjoyment.

In the prior art, these types of inflatable accessories, that is to say,balloons, are usually made from thin layers of metalized plastic (thatis, Mylar®) which are cut according to a predetermined shape and thenjoined at the edges by heat, by sealing to form the shape and the finalobject.

Unlike balloons made of latex, these balloons are cut with a very widerange of geometries in such a way as to form, once inflated, that is tosay, in use, balloons of a particular shape, which are suitable forparties, events or any type of use.

Typically, these balloons, which are commercially known, for example, asfoil balloons, are shaped to make three-dimensional figures once filledwith helium or simply with air.

Moreover, these balloons have drawings or colours on their outersurfaces in accordance with the figure to be formed: for example, teddybears, puppies, animals or cartoon characters in general.

Generally, these colours or set of lines which form the character,occupy the entire outer surface so it is difficult, if not impossible,to find spaces not touched by markings or colours.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to provide an inflatable accessory, orballoon, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention to provide an inflatableaccessory, or balloon, of the foil type suitable for filling with air,or gas of another type, to form a figure in which there is a spacedesigned to be filled—more or less partly—with products other than thematerial constituting the accessory itself.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to make the space freeof text or colours and for this reason designed to be written on withink.

Further, the particular aim of the invention is that the surfacedesigned to be a free space is made of material which does not absorbthe ink product positioned on it.

These aims are fully achieved by the inflatable accessory, or balloon,according to this invention, comprising the features described in one ormore of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description of a preferred, non-limitingembodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an inflatable accessory according tothis invention during its use;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a variant embodiment of the solutionof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic side view of the accessory according tothis invention in its stretched configuration of use, that is, inflated;

FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate variant embodiments of the accessory accordingto this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes aninflatable accessory, or balloon, according to this invention.

The balloon 1 is of the foil type, that is, made of plastic material,preferably a thermoplastic polymer.

In the preferred embodiments, the balloon is made of polyethyleneterephthalate (in particular Mylar® or the like) or nylon.

In any case, the balloon 1 according to this invention is not made oflatex or the like.

The balloon 1 comprises a main body 1 a made, in the simplestembodiment, from sheets of plastic material which are superposed andconnected by means of one or more seal lines to form a chamber 5 forinflation of the balloon 1.

It should be noted that the term “seal lines” means a generic joiningline between the sheets in question, preferably made by heating thematerial.

It should be noted that the dosed perimeter line 6 delimits peripherallythe main body 1 a.

As shown in the drawings, the inflatable accessory comprises:

-   -   a main body 1 a formed by one or more sheets 2 which are made of        the thermoplastic polymer and are connected to each other by        means of one or more seal lines to form the chamber 5 for        inflation of the balloon.    -   at least one portion L of the main body 1 a, made with the same        material as the sheet 2 and as one piece with it,    -   the portion L forms a second body 1 b configured in the form of        a surface S, the aim and purpose of which is to allow the        application of ink on it.

The term ink is defined as a preparation of variable consistency, fromliquid to pasty, consisting of solutions of dyes or suspensions ofpigments in a dispersing fluid, with the characteristic of fixing itselfon certain materials, such as paper or other supports suitable for thewriting, printing or use of a stamp.

Inks for writing are basically aqueous solutions of dye products, towhich other products are added which are designed to give the mostsuitable features for use.

This type of ink must give a sharp line without blurs, be sufficientlyclear, dry rapidly and not corrode or attack the materials with which itcomes into contact.

These inks constitute the basis of common pens or felt-tip pens ofcolours various.

As explained above, the portion L forms a second body 1 b configured inthe form of a surface S, the aim and purpose of which is allow theapplication of ink on it: this may occur in a removable manner (that is,it may be deleted) or in permanent manner, depending on the inks and therequirements.

Preferably, the second body 1 b is shaped in the form of a flat surface,with one or more faces to form a sort of book 10 or notepad.

In FIG. 1 the book 10 has the shape (or at least appearance) of a doublepage, whilst in FIG. 2 it has a single page shape or appearance.

Preferably, the first body 1 a is configured to form, in use and withthe inflatable chamber 5, a three-dimensional figure having at least onepair of protrusions 5 a containing or embracing the second body 1 b.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there are two pairs of protrusions 5 a containing orembracing the second body 1 b.

Further, preferably, the pair of protrusions 5 a is made as one piecewith the sheet 2.

Lastly, the first body 1 a is configured to form, in use, athree-dimensional figure referable to a human or animal or fantasyfigure which has at least one pair of protrusions 5 a, made as one piecewith the sheet 2, and embracing the second body 1 b. The latter isshaped in the form of a flat surface, with one or more planes, to form asort of book 10 or notepad.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show how the inflatable accessory has the inflatablechamber 5 divided into several sub-chambers 5 p of which at least onecomprises at least the above-mentioned portion L made as one piece withit, forming the second body 1 b configured in the form of a surface S.

In short, the sub-chambers (which may have comparable or completelydifferent dimensions from each other depending on the shape of theballoon to be achieved) are connected to each other in such a way that,when inflating, the air penetrates and reaches both the chambers to formthe final shape.

It is all made by suitable sealing of the sheets constituting theaccessory which leave a duct between the two (or more) sub-chambers.

In FIG. 4 the lower sub-chamber has smaller dimensions than the uppersub-chamber and also has the second body 1 b with the relative surfaceS. The numeral 20 denotes the duct and the joining point between the twosub-chambers.

In FIG. 5 there are three sub-chambers 5 p 1, 5 p 2, 5 p 3 connected toeach other at points 21 and 22.

In FIG. 6 there is a situation similar to that of FIG. 4 with the uppersub-chamber 5 p 1 much larger than the lower sub-chamber 5 p 2, withconnecting duct labelled 24.

Lastly, FIG. 7 shows an extreme solution, wherein the first sub-chamberis prevalent and forms a complete fantasy figure, which is connected, bya duct 26, to a small sub-chamber 5 p 2 which forms the second body 1 bwith relative surface S.

Also, in all the solutions shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the same material ofthe sheet 2 is used for all the chambers, sub-chambers and portion L.

Reference has not be made in this description to how the inflatableelement itself may be made. In this regard, it should be noted that theobject may be made either in a single body (a single piece) or usingseveral sheets joined together (sealed) according to the needs of themanufacturer or the more or less complex features of resulting figure.

In effect, the balloon solution according to this invention, forms, inuse, that is, in the inflated three-dimensional configuration, a figurefrom which two pairs of protrusions 5 a extend (which can form the armsand the legs of the figure), which, in turn, embrace the second body 1b. The latter being shaped to form a surface S sufficiently large to beable to contain writing which may be added to it by the end user.

In other words, the desired aim has been to create, as one piece withthe main body of the balloon, a second body free beforehand of writingor colours and which acts as a portion to be used for writing. This maybe single or multiple, that is, distributed, where existing, between thevarious sub-chambers.

The shape illustrated in the form of a book or notepad 10 is thepreferred but non-limiting shape.

The balloon product will therefore have the purpose of forming athree-dimensional figure which is referable, by the colours or linesformed on the outside of it, to a fantasy subject, but in which a freespace is left which can be used for writing.

An example might be that of applying on the free space a writtengreeting, a thought, a name, or something else, so as to personalise theproduct.

The material with which the balloon is made, even for the writingsurface, will be of the type which does not absorb ink placed on it: inthis way, it will be possible to write, cancel and rewrite as desired.

1. An inflatable accessory, comprising a main body formed by one or moresheets which are made of a thermoplastic polymer connected to each otherby one or more seal lines to form a chamber for inflation of theballoon; wherein the accessory comprises at least one portion made withthe same material as the sheet and as one piece with it, defining asecond body configured in the form of a surface designed to allow theapplication of ink on it.
 2. The inflatable accessory according to claim1, wherein the surface is configured to allow the removable applicationof ink on it.
 3. The inflatable accessory according to claim 1, whereinthe second body is shaped like a flat surface, with one or more faces,to form a sort of book or notepad.
 4. The inflatable accessory accordingto claim 1, wherein the first body is configured to form, in use andwith the inflatable chamber, a three-dimensional figure having at leastone pair of protrusions containing or embracing the second body.
 5. Theinflatable accessory according to claim 1, wherein the pair ofprotrusions is made as one piece with the sheet.
 6. The inflatableaccessory according to claim 1, wherein the first body is configured toform, in use, a three-dimensional figure which is referable to a humanor animal or fantasy figure having at least one pair of protrusions,made as one piece with the sheet, embracing the second body wherein itis shaped like a flat surface, with one or more faces, to form a sort ofbook or notepad.
 7. The inflatable accessory according to claim 1,wherein the inflatable chamber of the balloon is divided into severalsub-chambers of which at least one comprises at least one portion madeas one piece with it, defining the second body configured in the form ofa surface.
 8. The inflatable accessory according to claim 7, wherein theportion is made of the same material as the sheet.
 9. An inflatableaccessory, comprising a main body formed by one or more sheets which aremade of a thermoplastic polymer connected to each other by one or moreseal lines to form a chamber for inflation of the balloon; wherein theaccessory comprises at least one portion made with the same material asthe sheet and as one piece with it, defining a second body configured inthe form of a surface designed to allow the removable application of inkon it.